Resilient side bearing



06L 1951 E. BLATTNER 2 ,571,190

RESILIENT SIDE BEARING Filed Apfil 14, 1949 Inventor:

\4/ 3 *L j I Emil H Blattner his Attorney Patented Oct. 16, 1951 UNITEDSTATES PATENT OFFICE RESILIENT SIDE BEARING Emil H. Blattner, Bufialo,N. Y., assignor to The Symington-Gould Corporation, Depew, N. Y., acorporation of Maryland Application April 14, 1949, Serial N 0. 87,543

14 Claims.

This invention relates to a side bearing adapted to be interposedbetween two relatively movable parts of a railway vehicle.

An object of the invention is to provide a side bearing capable ofresiliently resisting the approaching movement of relatively movableparts of a railway vehicle.

Another object of the invention is to provide a side bearing of acompressible type and having its parts so arranged and constructed thatfric tional forces'will be created therein to form a side bearing ofpredetermined capacity.

A further object of the invention is to provide a side bearing ofrelatively few parts which is of simple construction, positive inactionand durable in service.

A feature of the invention is the provision, in a side bearing, of anintegral cap arranged to be urged, during all service movements, intofrictional contact with a related base.

An added feature of the invention is the provision, in a side bearing,of a cap and housing so arranged and constructed as to prevent the capfrom shifting horizontally relative to the housing while permittingvertical movement of the cap relative to the housing during serviceactions of the side bearing.

Another feature of the invention is the provision, in a side bearing, ofshoes movably mounted on a cap and in constant frictional contact with ahousing.

The above and numerous other objects and features of the invention willbecome apparent from the illustration of the accompanying drawing whichdiscloses an exemplified form of the in-,-

the lines 33 of Figure 1, looking in the direc--' tion of the arrows.

Figure 4 is a fragmentary vertical sectional view taken along the lines44 of Figure 1, looking in the direction of the arrows.

Referring now in detail to the drawing, wherein like referencecharacters designate like parts, the numeral I is employed to indicate,in a somewhat general manner, a side bearing illustrative of the presentinvention and of a particular type capable of compressing and expandingwithin plate.

certain predetermined limits to control, snub or cushion the movementsof a pair of associated, relatively movable bolster or load carryingmembers of a railway vehicle (not shown).

The side bearing is formed in part by a housing 2 comprising a lower orbase plate 3 adapted to bear upon or be supported by a truck bolster,only a top surface it of which is shown. The base plate is provided withapertures 5 positioned adjacent the transverse limits thereof for theaccommodation of any type of means (not shown) to secure the sidebearing to the truck bolster. 'Upstandingfrom the base plate arelongitudinally spaced, end walls 6 which extend toward a body bolster,only a lower surface of. a side bearing thereof being indicated in thedrawing by the diagrammatic line I. The end walls are preferablystraight and terminate short of the body side bearing surface "I for-theexpress purpose to be made hereinafter. apparent. The related edges ofthe endwalls are joined by a side wall 8, sometimes hereinafter calledthe rear or back side wall and which extendsvertically for the fullheight of the end walls from the base The rear side wall issubstantially flat to merge with the end walls as integral partsthereof. Spaced a predetermined distance from. the rear side wall isanother side wall 9, sometimes hereinafter termed the front side wallforconvenience and which also, like its related walls, extends from thebase plate truly vertical to the same extent as itscompanion walls.

Positioned within the housing is a cap lllhaving a portion thereofprojecting above the upper limits or extremities of the housing wall inorder to allow a downward movement-of the cap relative to the housingduring a compressive movement of theside bearing. The cap is formed inpart bya top or bed plate whichhas a raised or embossed portion l2arranged to bear, constantly against the body side bearing surface Iwith the clear space between the bed plate andupper edges of the housingwalls being determinative of the normal compressible or permissibledownward movementof the cap relative to the housing.

The side bearing is positioned adjacent to the extremities of the.bodyand truck bolstersand since the bolsters pivot relatively to oneanother about a common axis located at thelongitudinal center line ofthe railway vehicle or a point midway between the bolster. extremities,the side bearings are, during service, urged along an arcu- -ate pathabout the above-mentioned common axis when the vehicle with whichtheyare associated traverses a curve. Also it has been found byexhaustive tests, that when a railway vehicle is travelling along astraight track, the trucks of the vehicle have a definite tendency tonose or pivot about their connection to the vehicle body to thus followa somewhat sinuous path. When such motions are set up in a railway truckthe side bearings carried thereby are continually being moved along thearcuate path above mentioned. Since the bed 'plate of the'cap ismaintained, as above recited, in constant, contact with the body sidebearing surface 1, any pivotal movement of the truck relative to therailway vehicle will result in frictional forces beingcreated on the capbed plate and body side-bearing intimate surfaces. These frictionalforces tend definitely to control such movements of the truck to mate'-rially reduce or control the above mentioned nosing action thereof.

The cap is provided with downstanding longi tudinally spaced end flangesI3 which terminate 'short of the housing'base plate aiid areiarran'gedin inwardly spaced relation to the "housing end walls. Joining relatededges of the end flanges and also of the same vertical extent therewithis a side flange l4, sometimes hereinafter termed the rear side flange.This-rear side flange merges with the end flanges to form integral-partsthereof and is substantially plane or *flat to be in spaced, preferablyparallel, relation with the housingrear side wall. As will be noted theend and rear side flanges are maintained out of contact with theirimmediately adjacent walls so that no false capacity will be built up inthe side "hearing which would be the case if occasional contact werepermitted between these flangesand walls. Completing the'cap is anotherside flange I 5; sometimes hereinafter called the front side flange andthis flange 'isalso a-truly'vertical member joining related; edges ofthe end flanges and coextensive vertically therewith.

v The'side bearing'being of the 'resilient'tvpe is arranged to controlor 'cushionthe rockin action of a vehicle'bodv relative to the truckthereof. Accordin lv, it is preferred'toarrange the cap and'housing sothat'as the capmoves vertically irelati e to 'the'housing during servicemovements. frictional forces are created on contiguous surfaces tothereby add to the controlling or snubbing o'ualities of the sidebearing. Because of the radial movement of the sidebearing above'n'otedwhich rn'av be'in "a' clockwise "or counter-clockwise directiondepending entirely upon the action of the truck, it is'pref'erredthat'the'si'debeab 'ing be "so arran ed and constructed thatn'o lest motionwill be resent therein. That is to say. ifthe bearing has completed aclockwise radial movement andthen is constrained, due to truck action,to execute 'a counter-clockwise movement and also subiect it to serviceblo s a ainst which it may not be reinforced. To eliminate all of theabove named undesired contin encies the front side wa l of the housin'is'made nreferahlvvsha ed in plan or angular with resneotto the back se wall'as clearly shownin Figure l 'of the drawing.

The frontside flange of the cap is also formed V-shaped in plan andspaced a predetermined distance inwardly of the housing from the frontside wall thereof. Formed on each leg of the front side flange is asocket, recess or spherically disposed depression [6 opening outwardlyof the cap or facing the related front side wall. These sockets arepreferably formed in the front side flange intermediatethe heightthereof. Disposed between the front side flange and front side wall area plurality, preferably two, shoes or blocks l1, each having a bearingplate or web l8 presenting an outwardly facing or exposed surface IS) inintimate contact or in frictional engagement with arelated surface 20 ofthe front side wall. Because of the possible variations in therelationship of the surfaces 4 and I it is believed advisable at thepresent writing to incorporate some structure in the side bearing tocompensate'for any such possible variations in order to assure, at alltimes, a full and constant contact between the surfaces (9 and 20.Toward the'accomplishment of the above end eachshoe is provided witha'ball, protuberance or spherically formed bulb 2| extending inwardly ofthe side bearingfrom a central locationo'f the shoe plate or web. Eachprotuberance isne'sted -or seated in a related recessand since each shoeWeb is preferably spacedfrom the capfrontside flange each cap isaccordinglyarticulated relative to the cap. The cap and shoesbeingco'nnected by thedescribed universal 'joint any variation betweenthe surfaces '4 and I will notdisturb the desired relatlonshlp 'betweenthe surfaces IB and 20.

As previously stated the-cap is arranged tomove vertically relative tothe housing and as illu'strative of a type of yieldablemeansWhich'may beused to support the cap, there'is shown a pair of coil or helicalsprings 22 positioned within the housing and acting'verticallythereofbetween the base plate and 'bed plate. The coil-springs --are"spaced from one anotherlongitudinallyof the side bearing and aredesirably centeredrelative to the embossed portion-ofthe bed platebecause, as will be recalled, it is only --this latt er portion whichbears against the body sidebearing. Centering studs 23 are providedontlie'bed and-base plates to maintain 'thesprin'gs in a predeterminedposition. x I

As previously indicated, the shoes are urged into frictional engagementwith the housing front side wall and for the "execution -of this actionthere is introduced into the-side bearing s, a'yieldable-or compressiblemeans fl. This last mentioned means-is 'charactriaedin partby a helicalor coil spring 25 which is'norinally and preferablyhorizontally disposedtransversely of the side bearing intermediate "the heightthereof. Theone or leading-end of coil' spring 25 is respect to seated withinapocket lfifformed inwardly of the side bearing in"thefront'-side fiangeat what m'ay'be considered the apex of this V -shaped flange. Becausethe cap moves vertically with i the housing a-ndflth'e coil spring 25 as"will be hereinafter moredully'noted, reacts against the cap andhousing,-so'nie tiltingfaction of this spring will takeplace. Due'tothisaction it is believed advisableto associate some means with the springto compensate for such action. Accordingly, the cap rear side flange isprovided with an apertureor openingfl through which thehorizontalspr'in'g passes *and this opening'is of sufiicient verticalextent to allow-a free,'un

restricted service movement :of this -'accomm'odated spring. Associatedwith the-other enddif'the spring is a rocker spring seat 28 having astud -29 thereof extending into the spring for positioning purposes. Therocker seat has a convex or cylindrical surface'30 bearing directlyagainst the flat housing rear side wall so that as the spring tilts inresponse to a' cap movement very small abnormal stresses will be set upin the spring or the spring will be; subjected to very little flexingaction counter to its longitudinal axis. A tooth 3| is formed on therocker seat to extend into a suitable opening 32 of the housing rearside wall to thereby maintain the rocker seat in a predeterminedposition. I It will be appreciated, of course, that the compressionalvalue of the horizontal spring is suflicient to prevent a longitudinalshifting of the cap relative to the housing.

From the above description of the invention considered with theexemplification of the drawing it will be noted that various changes andalterations will become apparent without departing from the spirit ofthe invention or scope of the appended claims.

I claim:

1. In a side bearing, the combination of, a housing having a verticalwall thereof formed V-shaped in plan, a cap extending into said housingand having sockets opening toward said wall, shoes movably mounted insaid sockets and in frictional contact with said wall, said shoesarranged V-shape in plan for resisting longitudinal movement of said caprelative to said housing, spring means urging said shoes against saidwall, and spring means urging said cap outwardly of said housing.

2. In a side bearing, the combination of, a housing having a verticalwall thereof formed V- shaped in plan, a cap extending into saidhousing, shoes articulately mounted on said cap and in frictionalcontact with said wall, spring means within said housing supporting saidcap, and spring means urging said shoes against said wall.

3. In a side bearing, the combination of, a housing having a verticalwall thereof formed V- shaped in plan, a cap extending into saidhousing, a shoe articulatel mounted on and carried by said cap and infrictional contact with said wall, spring means supporting said cap, andspring means urging said shoe against said wall.

4. In a side bearing, the combination of, a housing having a verticalwall thereof formed V- shaped in plan, a cap extending out of said housing and presenting sockets facing said wall, shoes universally mountedin said sockets and bearing against said wall, a horizontal springurging said shoes against said wall, and vertically acting spring meanssupporting said cap.

5. In a side bearing, the combination of, a housing having a verticalside wall thereof formed V-shaped in plan, a cap in telescoping relationwith said housing and having sockets facing said wall, shoe meansuniversally mounted in said sockets and in frictional engagement withsaid wall, horizontal spring means intermediate the height of said capfor urging the latter and shoes toward said wall, and vertical springmeans for resiliently supporting said cap.

6. In a side bearing, the combination of, a housing having a verticalwall formed V-shaped in plan, a cap in telescoping relation with saidhousing and having sockets facing said wall, shoes having centrallylocated ball portions occupying said sockets, horizontal spring meanscontacting said cap and urging said shoes into engagement with saidwall, and spring means with in said housing for supporting said cap.

7. In a side bearing, the combination of, a housing having a verticalside wall formed V- shaped in plan, a cap having a portion thereofextending downwardly into said housing, .outwardly facing socketsintermediate the height of said cap, shoes interposed between said capand housing, spherical portions on said shoes centrally thereof andseated in said sockets. spring means urging said shoes into frictional.contact with said wall, and spring means sup-'- porting said cap.

8. In a side bearing, the combination of, a housing having a verticalwall, a cap partially extending into said housing, a socket in said capfacing said wall, a shoe interposed between saidi cap and wall, aprotuberance spherical in formation centrally of said shoe and seated insaid: socket, spring means acting against said cap for urging said shoeinto frictional engagement with: said housing, and spring meansresiliently supporting said cap.

9. In a side bearing, the combination of, a housing having avertical'wall, a cap in telescoping relation with said housing andhaving a flange in spaced relation to said wall, a socket in said flangeopening outwardly of said cap, a shoe interposed between said flange andwall, a spherical protuberance formed centrally on said shoe and seatedin said socket, horizontal spring means urging said shoe into frictionalengagement with said wall, and vertical spring means supporting said capand shoe.

10. In a side bearing, the combination of, a housing having a verticalWall V-shaped in plan, a cap in telescoping relation with said housingand having a flange spaced from said wall, a pair of shoes interposedbetween said wall and flange, outwardly opening sockets in said flange,spherically arranged protuberances on said shoes and seated in saidsockets, spring means for urging said cap toward and said shoes intocontact with said wall, and spring means supporting said cap and shoes.

11. In a side bearing, the combination of, a housing having a verticalwall V-shaped in plan and a vertical plane wall spaced therefrom, a capin telescoping relation with said housing and having a flange adjacentto said V-shaped wall, shoes carried by said flange and in frictionalengagement with said V-shaped wall, spring means acting against saidflange and plane wall for urging said shoes against said V-shaped wall,and spring means supporting said cap and shoes.

12. In a side bearing, the combination of, a housing having a verticalwall V-shaped in plan and a vertical plane wall spaced therefrom, a capin telescoping relation with said housing and having a flange adjacentto said V-shaped wall, shoes carried by and articulated with respect tosaid flange, spring means acting between said plane wall and flange forurging said shoes into frictional engagement with said V-shaped Wall,and spring means supporting said cap and shoes.

13. In a side bearing, the combination of, a housing having a verticalwall V-shaped in plan and a vertical plane wall spaced therefrom, a capin telescoping relation with said housing and having a flange adjacentto said \{-shaped wall, shoes carried by and movably mounted on saidflange, said shoes being arranged in V-formation and bearing againstsaid V-shaped wall, horizontal spring means reacting against said planewall and flange for maintaining said shoes in 7 constant contact with.said' V.-.shaped wall, and vertical spring. means supporting said capand shoes.

14. vIn a side bearing, the combination of, a housing having a verticalwall V-shaped in plan andavertical plane wall spaced therefrom, a cap intelescoping relation with said housing and havinga flangeadjacent tosaidV-shapedwall, shoes carried by and movably mounted on .said flangeintermediate the height thereof, spring means intermediate the height ofsaid. cap and housing and acting against said plane wall and flange forurging said shoes into frictional engagement REFERENCES CITED Thefollowing references are of record in'the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 2,197,783 Barrows Apr. 23, 19402,415,188 Olander Feb. 4, I947

